In 1829, the Perkins School for the Blind opened in Boston, Mass., becoming legendary as the school attended by both Helen Keller and teacher Anne Sullivan. Today, Perkins and similar schools educate children and adults, locally, nationally, and internationally.

Like Massachusetts, many states operated (some still do) schools for the blind. But, in today’s assistive technology -savvy culture having a wide variety of blind aids, are these schools necessary or out of date?  The question is debatable.  The answer probably lies in a person’s intentions (or parents’ intentions) in enrolling in a school for the blind. What do you think?

Technology and Schools for the Blind
Today, software for the visually impaired is fairly widely available and is known to vocational rehabilitation counselors, agencies serving the blind, and public schools. An example is GW Micro’s Window Eyes.  This speech recognition system, and others like it, operate on a regular computer and have adjustable volumes, voice tones, etc.

In 2000, I had the great pleasure of co-authoring a book commissioned by the American Printing House for the Blind called Teaching the Student with a Visual Impairment. In researching the material for the book, I discovered numerous blind aids and helps for teaching blind children existing outside these schools. Later, traveling for APH while demonstrating the use of an educational (non-medical) assessment for blind children, I met many enthusiastic and dedicated special education teachers from local school districts.

Are Schools for the Blind Obsolete?
Consider the following in your decision making:

    Age and maturity of child—will the child adapt easily to unfamiliar surroundings without family present?
    Distance from home—realistically how often will family visit?
    Orientation and Mobility (O&M) experience will occur in an environment other than one’s home area
    Quality of instruction—can vary with state requirements
    Cost—does state pay all or do you have to pay something?

This article is meant to be a starting point for consideration of schools for the blind, their benefits and their drawbacks. Read a listing of these schools.

Photo shows a boys' class at Perkins during the period when Anne Sullivan attended.